15. Sunny
Sunny
How many alphas does it take to put up a tent?
That sounds like the beginning of a dirty joke, and I giggle a little.
Said alphas look up at me, and when I don't say anything, they all reluctantly return to their work.
I'm on my second glass of wine. It makes me feel light, and all the crazy issues feel less stressful.
The guys have been going at the tent for an hour, and this half-up-half-down thing looks like it'll blow over with one good gust of wind.
In their efforts, they've worked up quite a sweat.
Suit jackets and ties have been shucked off, sleeves have been unbuttoned and rolled up, revealing massive biceps, and the tops of hair and non-hair-covered chests with impressive V's at their pecks.
It makes me hot for a totally different reason, and I ignore the ache forming between my thighs.
Jess tries to stake down a corner of the tent and breaks the cheap plastic stake with his massive alpha foot…
again. You'd think, for how expensive that tent looks, it would have provided metal stakes.
The sun is just about to set. Thankfully, it's June and not too cold at night.
They won't freeze or anything, but I know these guys haven't thought this through.
Heat, lights, chargers, bathroom facilities, water?
Nah. I give them one night before they book it back to the city.
That's what I want. It's what needs to happen.
Then why do I have this horrible, hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach?
My omega whines within me at the thought of them being further away than the yard.
I shush her. She doesn't know what's best for us.
She doesn't live in the real world of bills, business, and managing.
She lives in scents, instincts, and desires.
She may have a significant hold on my reactions sometimes, but I'm still in charge.
I keep telling myself that as I descend the front porch steps and walk over to a small shed on the cornerback of the property. The guys are still grunting and struggling behind me. I swing open its large double doors and swat away the angry wasps that have made nests in the wooden beams.
I sift through a couple of boxes and move a few pieces of lawn equipment before finding a box with extra screws, nails, and metal stakes. Huffing back across the lawn, I step up to Cole, who's staring holes into my face. I don't meet his eyes when I thrust the box into his hands.
"Thank you!" Jess calls at my back as I make my way into the farmhouse.
"Don't go near my bees!" I call as the screen door slams behind me.
Am I being an asshole? Maybe. But I don't know these guys.
I should call the cops and have them removed from the property.
I originally planned to do just that. Let them struggle to get the damn tent up, and then call the cops to have them removed anyway.
But my omega has some serious feelings about it when I try to do it.
Apparently, I'm not going to completely make them leave.
Whenever I reach for the landline to call the police back, I panic a little.
My heart rushes in my ears. And then I drink more wine.
Cause if my life is going to be this messed up, I might as well be blitzed for it.
After nightfall, I peek out of my bedroom window to see that the tent is up. They've managed it. They're tracking in sleeping bags, and they've purchased battery-operated lanterns. So, not completely hopeless. I'll give them two days.
I see the headlights of a car coming up the drive and tense. Is it the vandals coming back to do more damage? But then the car stops, and I see the light from a Tony's Pizza logo on the roof. Hunt pays the driver, and from the driver's smile, it's a generous tip.
When he turns, Hunt glances me in the window and flashes a toothy smile, raising the pizza in invitation to join them.
The dinner was boxed into the fridge. I guess that's what Jess did in the house when I'd been talking.
I roll my eyes at Hunt and close the curtains.
Laying down, my omega is restless. She doesn't want to be here when our alphas are out there, but I stuff down the clawing need to go to them.
I will not be encouraging them. Just because I'm having some issues on the farm doesn't mean I need a pack.
Especially a pack that doesn't fit here. I fall into a troubled sleep.